Government wants self-reliance in blood and cornea collection, health minister says
Health and Family Welfare Minister Sardar Md. Sakhawat Hossain has said the government wants to become self-reliant in collecting blood and corneas by reducing dependence on foreign sources. For that, alongside raising public awareness about voluntary blood donation and posthumous eye donation, adequate blood stocks must be ensured so that not a single person loses their life for lack of blood.
He made the remarks on Monday (November 2) at a programme held at Bangladesh Medical University (BMU) on the occasion of National Voluntary Blood Donation and Posthumous Eye Donation Day. This year's theme for the day was about the triumph of life through blood donation and the search for light through eye donation.
The health minister said people must be encouraged further to donate blood voluntarily and must move away from the idea that donating blood harms the body. He said one person's donated blood can save another person's life, and adequate collection and stock arrangements must be kept so that no blood crisis arises in an emergency.
He said awareness also needs to be raised about blood testing of brides and grooms before marriage, or carrier screening, to prevent thalassaemia. The government will take necessary initiatives and provide support in this area, he said.
At the programme, Director of the National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital Dr Syed Mehebub Ul Kadir said the National Voluntary Blood Donation and Posthumous Eye Donation Day programme began on November 2, 1978. Although the voluntary blood donation movement has passed 48 years, the posthumous eye donation programme, which began in 1984, has still not reached its desired goal.
Dr Syed Mehebub Ul Kadir said about 4,200 corneas have so far been collected in the country, of which about 3,500 have been transplanted. This year, the number of cornea donors was only 12.
He said that although there was previously an opportunity to collect corneas from Nepal, that has now stopped, so the country has to depend on the United States and Sri Lanka for corneas. To overcome this situation, he emphasised increasing posthumous eye donation in the country and building capacity for cornea collection and preservation.
Praising the activities of related organisations including Sandhani at the programme, the health minister said the government will cooperate to advance voluntary blood donation and posthumous eye donation activities.
